Chapter 6 – Whatever She Wants

Bret drove the buggy and Bart pointed out the different buildings on the grounds. Ben and Beau marveled at how thoroughly Pauly Wilcox and the boys had converted the land to a working ranch so quickly. "It wasn't quick, Ben, but Pauly got it done," Bart explained. "Him and me sat down and designed most of it, and then we had Bret go over everything to give us his opinion. It seems to have come together nicely."

Even Dani seemed suitably impressed. "It's laid out so well," she remarked.

"I have to admit that I saw another horse ranch south of Claytonville, and I purloined their layout. But still . . ."

"It works," Beauregard interjected.

"That's right," Bret stated. "It works."

"That's all that matters," Beau told them. "How's the business going, anyway?"

"We turned a profit last year. Looks like it'll be even bigger this year," Bart told them with pride.

"It's a beautiful spread," Ben was sincere when he told them that. "You made real good use of the land, boys. I'm sure proud of what you've done with this old place."

"Me, too," Beauregard agreed. "And to think, I tried to talk 'em out of it."

"And we're all grateful that you didn't, Beauregard. Especially since we're all livin' here." It was the first thing Maude said on the trip.

It took more than an hour to drive the ranch and show it all to everyone. None of the children had come along, so the ride was pleasant and peaceful. Bart promised to take the older ones on a trip of their own the next day, and Maudie and Benny had already ridden most of it themselves.

"Benny seems right at home on horseback, Beau. What about Abby?" The question came from Doralice.

"Abby's not much into riding. She prefers English saddle, and she likes the indoors better than the outdoors."

"She reads a lot, and does all sorts of needlework, and is learning to cook. That's where her interests lie," Dani was quick to point out.

"She and Belle should get along fine," Bart told his sister-in-law. "Belle's into all of that kind of stuff."

Bret pulled the buggy up alongside one of the pastures. "Look, that's LuLu with her latest foal. LuLu is a descendant of Blue, the first blue roan we cross-bred with Cantaro. Actually, we didn't cross-breed 'em. Cantaro and Blue decided it was a good idea themselves and started the line. They had minds of their own."

"Blue was the sweetest horse. Cantaro decided she was his girl, and that's all there was to it." Doralice possessed an undying love for the little blue roan mare.

"LuLu is a lot like Blue," Bart said quietly. "Gentle and sweet, she loves everybody. Except she's got a lot more Arabian in her than Blue did."

"I don't mean to bring up a sore spot, but whatever happened to Noble?" Beau questioned.

Bart turned to his brother with a haunted look on his face and had Bret stop the buggy; he climbed down and walked away for a few minutes. When he came back his eyes were shiny. "That stubborn old man. I still miss him, always diggin' in my pockets for an apple." He got back in the buggy, but his voice sounded strained. "I went out to feed the horses one morning and found him on the ground, in his stall. He was already gone by the time I got to him. There'll never be another one like him."

"That's for sure," Bret muttered under his breath. Out loud he told them, "I'm gonna head back to the house now. Lunch should be ready."

"Good, I'm starved," Beau offered. He put his hand on Bart's arm. "Didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."

"You'd think after all these years I'd be over it."

"Some things you just don't get over, Bart. Obviously Noble is one of them."

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"I could sure go for a nap," Beau told no one in particular when lunch was over.

"No naps for you, Beau. I need your help with the children's trip around the ranch." Bart had a slight smirk on his face when he made the statement.

"Really? You can't manage without me?" Beau pleaded.

"Considerin' it's your children that want to see the place?"

Beau looked puzzled. "I thought they were goin' tomorrow."

"They were," Bret explained. "But we've got a buyer comin' in unexpectedly, and the only chance we've got is today."

"Alright, I'll go; give me a minute to change clothes."

"Maudie," Bart called, "get ready. We're goin' in a few minutes. Belle, same for you."

Abby came running out of the girl's bedroom. "Can I go like this, Belle?" she asked her cousin.

"You can, but I wouldn't," Belle answered honestly. "Did you bring a riding skirt? And boots?"

"But we're not riding horses, are we?" Abby questioned out loud.

"No, but knowing Daddy, he'll want us to get out so he can show us some things. Much better in a ridin' skirt than a fancy dress. That's too pretty to get dirty or ruined."

Abby hated to change out of the lacy pink dress she had on. "Are you sure?"

Belle let loose with a good laugh. "If you go dressed like that, I guarantee it. Better safe than sorry."

"Alright, I believe you. Give me a few minutes." There was disappointment in Abby's voice, but she knew when she was defeated. She went back into the bedroom as Maudie was coming out.

"Hey, Abby, you're goin' the wrong way!" Maudie called after her.

"She's goin' to change clothes," Belle explained.

"You ready, Benny?" Maudie questioned as she came around the corner and almost ran over her cousin.

"Yes, ma'am. Ready as I'll ever be," Benny answered with a grin. "I can't wait to see this place through your dad's eyes."

"Come on outside when you're done, sweetheart," Bart told Belle, kissing her on the head and dragging Beau out the front door.

"Can I come, too, Father?" Beauregard pleaded, running after Bart.

It took almost ten minutes for Abby to change clothes, and she and Belle were the last ones out. They crawled up into the back seat of the buggy and everyone was on their way.

Beau played driver while Bart was the tour guide. It wasn't hard for Beau to get around the place, the way everything was laid out. And he had the advantage of seeing it just that morning. Beauregard sat in front between his father and his 'Uncle.' This trip took longer than the one with the adults; Bart had Beau stop every time they came across a baby animal. Abby was fascinated with the tiny goats, who bounced and jumped all over everything. Benny particularly liked the three Arabian-quarter horse foals, especially a dappled chestnut that was just two months old.

Bart and Beau sat in the buggy and watched the two sets of twins lean over the fence and admire the foals. "Which one's your favorite?" Benny asked Maudie.

"Spreckles," Maudie answered without hesitation. "That's LuLu's foal. He's a blue roan, and the sweetest colt we've had here for a long time. Poppy promised I could help train him when he's old enough. He's gonna make somebody a fine mount."

"You mean you won't keep him?" Benny asked incredulously.

"Not if somebody wants to buy him."

"But, but why not?"

"Because this is a ranch, Benny, but it's a business, too. If somebody wants to buy him, that's what we're here for."

"Is that likely to happen?"

"Probably."

The young man could hear the disappointment in her voice. "I'll buy him for you."

It was a bold gesture, and Maudie fell a little bit in love with the boy that wanted to do something so nice for her. She reached over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're sweet, but I don't think you could afford him."

"Why not?" he asked indignantly.

"Because he's probably gonna cost five hundred dollars or more."

"That much? For that little spindly-legged creature?"

Maudie laughed and explained. "That little spindly-legged creature is part Arabian and part quarter horse. And he's a blue roan, to top it off. Not too many like him in this part of the country."

"Come on, kids. Time to head home," Bart called. He turned to Beau before climbing back into the buggy. "Those two seemed to have hit I off. Is Abby always this quiet?"

Beau nodded. "Just like Dani. She could sit and look out the window for hours. Belle seems to be that way, too."

"She's always just watched and waited, ever since she was a baby. Just the opposite of Maude. Wanted to see what it was all about before she commented on it. Pretty sure of herself when she finally gives you her opinion. I think she's got her heart set on goin' to college."

"Wouldn't that be somethin'?" Beau asked. "A Maverick in college."

"Better watch out, cousin. From what I've seen, you're gonna have one of your own there."

"Abby?"

"Looks that way."

Beau shrugged. "Whatever she wants, Bart. Whatever she wants."